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9/28/15: Bon Jovi, Alsarah & the Nubatones, Kedr Livansky, Appleby

@@@ Bon Jovi: Labor of Love (Island, 2016). I know it might seem out of place but let’s be honest you can’t fuck with Bon Jovi. These guys were one of the original chef’s of ’80s rock cheese sauce. This tune seems to bite Bruce Springsteen with some almost country guitar washes in this heartfelt ballad about work and love. All eyes are on Mr. Bon Jovi — if he needs some sugar he’ll get it from your lips. Fuck I just got the shivers. Baby this ain’t working, it’s a labor of love! I can say the same about listening to this pure gold pouring out of my speakers. The song is slowly building and I’m still holding out hope for a couple patented Bon Jovi whoa hos. He wants to die hearing you say his name. #moreshivers #puddleoflove. Oh there are some restrained hoo whoas at the back end of this tune but I’ll live with it. Bon Jovi rules!

@@@ Alsarah & The Nubatones: Ya Watan (Wonderwheel, 2016). East African sounds via Brooklyn as I got to this via the WRIR weekly email. It’s a slowish tune punctuated by sharp hand drumming, a female vocalist, and some electronic floaties sprinkled throughout the mix. It’s a tad restrained for my taste but I dig the drumming.

@@@ Appleby: Glossy Ride (Lekker Collective, 2016). A slow chopped salad of voices, a big bombastic beat, oh that was the intro it’s broken out into a mid tempo sad hip hop banger. It’s not cough syrup weird, it’s more heartbroken. It appears the song is about driving but if your driving speed matched the tempo of the track it would be a mellow ride.

@@@ Kedr Livansky: January Sun EP (2MR, 2016) Electronic music out of Russia. To my ears this track recalls old school drum ‘n bass with some retro sounds plus a simple chord progression and some tripped out vocal sample sauce over the top. It’s got a repetitive ascending vibe I dig. It’s all right. I’m finding the second track Destructive Cycles to be more sharply focused and interesting.

YTD recordings listened to: 767
Good music, not recommended for purchase: 432
Not good music: 288